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Back from the dead: 'Confirmed' reports of Kimo Leopoldo's untimely demise prove to be untrue

Despite several early morning reports that 'confirmed' the death of MMA's Kimo Leopoldo, MMAmania.com is happy to pass along the news that the former UFC competitor is alive and well -- and likely a bit confused over all the recent attention.

The story was picked up earlier this morning and confirmed by TMZ before subsequently being reported by the Orange Country Register and the New York Daily News, leading us right here at MMAmania.com to incorrectly and prematurely pass along the news.

Fortunately after pursuing the Leopoldo camp throughout the day, we managed to reach his publicist, Bob Trieger, who gave us the good news that his client was in fact, alive and well.

The 41-year-old MMA veteran last competed inside the Octagon at UFC 48 in 2004, losing to Ken Shamrock via first round knockout (knee). He fared no better in the last performance of his career, which was a technical knockout loss to Wes Sims at Extreme Wars 5: "Battlegrounds" in 2006.

Kimo (10-7-1) is perhaps best known for wearing down Royce Gracie in a losing effort at UFC 3, thus allowing Nebraska police officer Steve Jennum his 15 minutes of fame.

Throughout his 12-year career, Kimo struggled with substance abuse. He tested positive for steroids several times, including after his last fight with Shamrock and prior to a scheduled bout against Bas Rutten at the World Fighting Alliance that never materialized.

Kimo — who made an unsuccessful bid to become the executive director of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) — was also recently held by police for drug possession in Tustin, Calif., after authorities spotted the ex-fighter wearing a Long Beach Police Department jumpsuit complete with patches and a cloth badge.

Leopoldo is expected to make a statement by tomorrow.

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Hard to understand how TMZ breaks the story of Michael Jackson’s death but gets the Kimo story wrong. Fail rolls downhill and rolled right over us.

by Jesse Holland on Jul 21, 2009 6:58 PM EDT reply actions  

!!VIVA KIMO!!

by TaPouT on Jul 21, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

Kimo has a publicist?

by JOhn G on Jul 21, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

No untimely death = no automatic enshrinement in UFC Hall of Fame.

by PW on Jul 21, 2009 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

Publicist, dealer … call him what you want, just pay him the damn money you owe.

by Jeremyjackson on Jul 21, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

JJ,are you be interested for a free pass(sites)?

by Alpha Male 360 on Jul 22, 2009 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions  

BREAKING NEWS

Kimo Leopold once thought to have died from heart problems, recently resurected from the dead has once again died. This time from a car accident. It was reported earlier this morning by Kimo’s publicist Brian S Degree.

by Cogito Ergo Sum on Jul 22, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions  

No sweat Jesse,a lots of sites did the same corrigendum!

by Alpha Male 360 on Jul 21, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions  

What is this, The New York Times over here or something?

by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Jul 21, 2009 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

LMAO….yeah it did. Dude i never follow any rumors started on the undeground. GOD! you know what I think i Know they guy who started the thread. OMA….i use to play OGAME with a guy called OMA_THE_LONER and we use to talk about MMA.

by Santiago69us on Jul 21, 2009 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions  

Ya I really do want to see Kimbo vs Gracie 2

by curtioso on Jul 22, 2009 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

priceless

by markie on Jul 21, 2009 6:59 PM EDT reply actions  

Gracie – Kimo 2!!!!!!!! I want it!!!!!!!

by Cantrim on Jul 21, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

Those two couldn’t even pass an East German drug test.

by PW on Jul 21, 2009 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

lol

by Alpha Male 360 on Jul 22, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions  

or a Women’s chinese swimming drug test

by McArthur on Jul 22, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

i dont know if this is good news or bad news…

by jhk on Jul 21, 2009 7:02 PM EDT reply actions  

he should’ve waited 3 days to resurrect

by Vic on Jul 21, 2009 7:03 PM EDT reply actions  

LMFAO!

by Syd[a.k.a."the Negation"] on Jul 21, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

“Heyoooooo….”

by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Jul 21, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

I always got the impression Kimo was a crazy dude!

by DAVE A on Jul 21, 2009 7:20 PM EDT reply actions  

These TMZ scumfucs have no life. They should get one. Oh wait, waiting around all day for celebrities to make an apparition is there life! Stoopid!

by Syd[a.k.a."the Negation"] on Jul 21, 2009 7:24 PM EDT reply actions  

^…“their” life…

by Syd[a.k.a."The NEgation"] on Jul 21, 2009 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well, if you saw the last interview he did with Cofield, you would think he is at least brain dead. Pretty funny stuff. In case you missed it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3egHUq6pKz4&feature=channel_page

by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Jul 21, 2009 7:55 PM EDT reply actions  

yeah i have a comment. thats my comment. no comment lol brain dead after butting them bricks lol

by boyer on Jul 22, 2009 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions  

That is some f….. up sh…..

by yoububg on Jul 21, 2009 7:58 PM EDT reply actions  

Great news!!!!!

by Charlie Sharlow on Jul 21, 2009 8:24 PM EDT reply actions  

Very strange what happened if you ask me. How can people confirm him dead and say he was not lol? Strange. But good News either way.

by My Cage on Jul 21, 2009 8:54 PM EDT reply actions  

damn it! i was all set to start the kimo hall of fame nonsense that happens when someone affiliated with ufc dies.

by day1er on Jul 21, 2009 9:02 PM EDT reply actions  

Dead or alive, dude is no HOF’er

by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Jul 21, 2009 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

hofer what kind of slang is that

by hddavidson on Jul 22, 2009 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

LMAO!

by Alpha Male 360 on Jul 22, 2009 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions  

Sorry for leaving out the abbreviation marks. Didn’t know it would make it that hard to understand.

H.O.F. ’er = Hall Of Famer

Should I explain what “don’t” stands for as well?

by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Jul 22, 2009 6:58 AM EDT up reply actions  

o o i got this one mexi. don’t stands for does – not, whoo!

by Cogito Ergo Sum on Jul 22, 2009 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions  

That said, if his statement tomorrow after becoming undead is “Braaaaaaaaaaains…..BRAIIIIIIIIIIIIIINS!”, then we may have a bigger issue on our hands.

by TheIlluminati on Jul 21, 2009 9:20 PM EDT reply actions  

way way off topic but i went to walmart tonight. and the kid that worked the cash register was shawn hornbeck. holy crap. those of you that dont know who he is google his name. again way off topic but damn. I feel bad for the poor kid.

by dbg on Jul 21, 2009 9:38 PM EDT reply actions  

Good thing you didnt ask him if he needed a ride home!!!

Sorry Im bad, just kidding. Yea thats pretty messed up actually, good to see an organization is there to help now in these situations. There are some twisted fudgers out there now days, thanks to the good ole internut.
Creating pervs one at a time.

by OMG on Jul 21, 2009 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

dont know dont care google dale blaney

by hddavidson on Jul 22, 2009 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions  

He loves MMA and is involved with locally.

by NYM on Jul 23, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

lol you guys posted the news before TMZ, the Orange Country Register and the New York Daily News… so just tell the truth and say you got trolled via the UG.

by Dan on Jul 21, 2009 10:35 PM EDT reply actions  

That is INSANE!

oh and OMG,

LMFAO! :)

by SoCalStunNa on Jul 22, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions  

ah shit this was meant for The Shawn Hornbeck post 2 up.

by SoCalStunNa on Jul 22, 2009 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions  

He should fight Shamrock again

by MMATattoos on Jul 22, 2009 1:47 AM EDT reply actions  

dale blaney the sprint car driver? if so just putting it out there i knew dave blaney not so much dale my dad used to owne terry mccarls ride,and wolfgangs,andsaldanas. any way. yea seeing shawn hornbeck at walmart. couldnt even look at the kid in the eye while paying for my groceries. poor damn guy. he will never have a normal life.

by dbg on Jul 22, 2009 1:53 AM EDT reply actions  

only the wwes Undertaker can rise from the dead, LOL. get your life straight Kimo before you really die for real.

by realmma on Jul 22, 2009 3:24 AM EDT reply actions  

Welcome back Kimo.

by Kdog on Jul 22, 2009 4:54 AM EDT up reply actions  

I think having the “Jesus” tatoo helps.

by mikey on Jul 22, 2009 6:26 AM EDT reply actions  

why would you rely on tmz of all media/gossip sites?

by WillyD on Jul 22, 2009 8:49 AM EDT reply actions  

Couldnt care less.

by UK_Chris on Jul 22, 2009 1:19 PM EDT reply actions  

KIMO VS GRACIE 2 – hell yeah! i think kimo was about to upset gracie in that fight; i remember royce was getting his ass whooped and started pulling on kimo’s pony tail; i respect royce, but at the time i thought that was bitch move…

by miggz3000 on Jul 22, 2009 5:25 PM EDT reply actions  

man to be honest with you, i was saddened when i first heard this because i was big kimo fan back in the days; glad to know he’s still around; he was a legit badass and showed that athleticism and good ground and pound could nullify bjj at the time;

by miggz3000 on Jul 22, 2009 5:30 PM EDT reply actions  

Instead of feeling sorry for Shawn, when you see him why don’t you treat him with respect and like any other guy you’d see working there. Look him in the eye, tell him to have a great day, and give him a positive moment. That’s what he needs more than anything, to have positive and normal life, so why not be a part of that? Seriously.

by Becca on Aug 1, 2009 7:06 PM EDT reply actions  

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